Sunday, January 21, 2007

A Nanny State for Your Child?

From the California Nanny State Battlefield comes this gem:

Cries rise over bill banning spanking in California

Basically:

"The California Legislature is about to weigh in on a question that stirs impassioned debate among moms and dads: Should parents spank their children?

If legislation being drafted by a Mountain View lawmaker is approved, California would become the first state in the nation to explicitly ban parents from swatting their toddlers."

Oh, boy. The nanny state is at it again. The article points out that child raising experts are split on whether spanking works or not. Lawmakers point out that the law would be unenforceable. Parent point out that the legislature is "crazy".

But what is great is the logic behind the law:

"Why do we allow parents to hit a little child and not someone their own size?" asked Nazario, a professor at the University of San Francisco Law School. "Everyone in the state is protected from physical violence, so where do you draw the line? To take a child and spank his little butt until he starts crying, some people would define that as physical violence."

Bingo!

Logic : I think => Some think => All people must agree by statue of law.

Add to that: Everyone in the state is protected from physical violence...

Another person sure of their safety and ready to extend their fantasy to you and yours, by rule of law.

So what makes the lawmaker behind the law such a child raising expert?

"For the record, Lieber said, she does not have children and says she was not slapped as a child. But she does have a cat named Snoop, which her veterinarian told her never to hit."

How could I have guessed?

Friday, January 19, 2007

No More AK: Go AR15!


Well, so much for the AK. I got a call from The Exchange. They said that they had looked at my AK and compared it to all the others there and mine was the best after all. "What can you expect? It's an AK!" they said. They kindly helped me and after much consideration I went with an AR Carbine. And it seems to be a good move.

I picked it up today from my FFL, traded in my AK ammo for some stuff I could actually use, and looked over the new carbine. Let me first note two key things: it is straight, and it is light. The first is no surprise. The second is. I mean, this thing is 2.5 pounds lighter than the AK underfolder. You can feel it. Also, the stock is fully functional in the collapsed stated and is no more troublesome than the collapsed AK. EXCEPT YOU CAN UNFOLD IT WITHOUT USING YOUR RIGHT HAND! Sweet...

Maneuvering in tight quarters looks easy with it, and even thought the barrel is very short on it, accuracy should be better than an AK (we will see).

I do have to note here that I will miss my AK's and am reluctantly "switching teams". I like the AK mechanisms and the sloppiness of function that leads to the superb reliability of the whole system. I also like the larger round. (The latter could be fixed with a larger barrel/upper if I wanted to go to a 6.8mm setup later).

So, frankly, while I have betrayed Team AK and now have an AR, I have been forced to do it due to poor manufacture and limited funds.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Scary Experience, Comforting P32

Had a scary incident at work today, and got a moment to consider just how serious I am about personal safety and the safety of those around me. It all happened in a matter of minutes and I will say that I was very aware of myself the whole time. Here is my memory of what happened and what I was thinking:

I was at the shop and it was a hectic day that had just slowed a bit. I was on the front counter helping a a young female customer with a middle aged guy waiting in the wings for some assistance. One other employee was at the shop as well and he working at the service bench while talking on the phone with a customer.

As I was finishing up with the young lady, an individual walking in the store that set off my alarms. He was young and wore a sweatshirt with a hood drawn as far over his head as the fabric would allow. He was looking down and away from my security camera, and most importantly he kept both hands in his sweatshirt pockets from the moment he walked in and did not even take them out when he sat down in a chair that had large armrests. The whole time he kept from looking at the camera, but he did seem to be looking around, mostly at people's legs.

I was immediately concerned and followed the advice of "don't ignore your instincts".

I told him that I would be with him soon and he just nodded in my direction. So I continued with the lady while keeping my eye on him. My alarms kept getting louder as his behaviors did not change and his hands never came out. I just kept thinking that I needed to get the customers out of the store quickly without raising an alarm. I especially needed to get the lady out as I perceived her as a potential target and one that was on the other side of the counter from me.

I helped the lady as quickly as possible and shooed her out without finishing her warranty paperwork. Since the phone was ringing, I took the call and put the person on hold, again while keeping the guy in sight. To understand the layout of the situation, you need to know that I work in a rectangle shaped room with a counter near the front, narrow end, and 70% of the rectangle behind me which comprises the actual service area. While it is all open, the counter can only be gone around on the right hand side as you stand behind it. The guy was sitting less than 10' away, but nicely on the left side. The remaining customer was on the right side at the end of the counter which gave him room to get behind the counter if needed.

Again, I was very clear in my mind that I needed to get the remaining customer out of the store and I prayed no new customers would arrive. Luckily our business was short, and the last customer left, but he did it slowly, keeping himself in the greatest area of danger. So I stalled.

Before the suspicious guy could stand, I told him I had to take a call that was on hold and would be right with him. Without waiting for a response or taking my eyes off of him, I moved to a phone further away and took the call that was on hold. No one was there. So I had a fake conversation while the last customer left the store. It took perhaps 10-20 seconds, but that was the time I needed to have the store empty.

My co-worker was still on the phone, oblivious to the events unfolding. So I hung up the phone and decided to address the hooded guy while I was lucky enough to have a near empty store. I moved quickly to the left side of the counter so that I was positioned between the guy and my oblivious co-worker. As I moved, I casually pulled the back of my t-shirt up and over my right back pocket where my loaded P32 was in a pocket holster.

I should stop and mention here that my heart was THUMPING and the adrenaline was pumping as my body was getting ready for potential combat. I felt that my system was getting near out of control, but that my mind was far clearer and focussed that I expected it would be. I could hear the words of Ayoob and others: watch his hands, trust your instincts, check the backstop, think about your next step, create space, and so on. I was also weighing my own mind, asking that final time, "If he attacks to maim or kill, will you be willing to kill him?". The answer seemed clear as day.

He got up and came over to the counter with his best gangsta gait and took both hands out of his pockets showing me an MP3 player. He wanted to sell it. He still was intentionally looking away from the camera, but since I could see both hands I was a bit calmer. I wanted him gone, and was not really interested. I suggested a nearby pawn shop and backed away from the counter in disinterest. He murmured something, turned away from the camera and left the store.

No sooner had walked 15' into the parking lot, than two police cruisers pulled up and confronted him. Two more quickly showed up and I saw them taking the MP3 player out and asking him questions. I went to the door and waved an officer over that I had met the week before when some guys sold me some stolen goods and had been arrested. I told him that this guy had tried to sell me the MP3 player and that I could give him footage.

The officer laughed and asked if I had noticed that this was the very same guy they had arrested the week before. I HAD NOT. Perhaps it was the hood that obscured my sight, perhaps the threatening behaviors took all my attention, who knows. As we talked, the officers in the lot were putting the handcuffs on and loading the guy in the back seat. I burned a copy of my security footage and off they went.

Before he left, I mentioned how the guy had freaked me and how I had not recognized him. The officer was not in a talkative mood. I did not mention my carry license or the fact that I was preparing protect myself. The last thing I need is to look like a vigilante.

I did, however, have a conversation with my co-worker about how we need to come up with a code for "Get the F**k out the back door!". I told him that I wanted him to leave so that there would be no obstructions in my own egress out the back door (or through it at high speeds). I did not mention that I wanted him out also so that I would not have to worry about protecting him or keeping him out of any potential line of fire.

So what did I learn today? Let's list the lessons in no particular order:

1. Trust Your Instincts: They may be better than your eye sight.
2. Keep in Control of the Situation If Time Allows: Both because it creates a better situation and it let you feel in control, even as adrenaline courses through your veins.
3. A P32 in the back pocket goes a long way to helping you feel calmer in the face of a potential robbery. (Although an upgrade to a P3AT might be nice).
4. Stay Calm & Keep Planning: I just kept thinking, "What next, what next?" as I used each moment to slightly improve the situation while I still had time to improve it.
5. Live Semi-Rural: It is nice to be in a town where a stolen MP3 player warrants 4 police cruisers + handcuffs.

That is about it. If I had any question about full time carry at work, it is answered, especially as my alone time at the store may increase.

Good night!

New AK: Back to the Shop

So I took it out to clean it off and look more carefully at the canting, and I noticed that the front end seemed a bit off. So peered down the barrel and noticed that instead of looking at the middle of the end of the receiver, I was looking more at it's corner. A more careful examination reveals that the entire front of the rifle was misaligned because of a poor attachment of the front end to the receiver.

The whole front end is pointing off to the left.

Damn!

I just emailed the vendor to see if he will swap it. I really don't want to send this thing off to Century Arms.

Will let you all know...

UPDATE:

After only one email, the wonderful people at The Exchange have offered to just replace the rifle. I will let you know how good the new one is once it arrives!

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Danger vs. Fear: A Parade of Ammo


It is humorous to me when people fear guns by reputation alone. Here is the parade of ammo types that make up my armory. From Left to right, they are the most feared. While in reality, from right to left, they are the most dangerous.

Go Figure.

Which is the dreaded AK? Or the cheap, hidden Saturday Night Special? Or the high capacity, handgun of death? Or the socially acceptable hunting gun? Which has been the focus of the most gun legislation? Which would I least want to get hit by?

Here are the answers:

(A) .32 ACP round from my inexpensive "carry" gun that some call a Saturday Night Special because it retails under $200.
(B) .40 S&W round from my Hi-Cap Taurus pistol that I use for home defense and competition.
(C) 7.62x39 round from my AK47 Underfolder, my Katrina Gun.
(D) .303 British round from my "deer rifle" (sporterized Enfield SMLE III), which can drop a Black Bear not to mention a deer.

Which round is the most dangerous? (D) .303 British. Why? Because no body armor available could stop it and the terminal kinetics it offers are far, far more deadly than the AK's anemic round.

Which round has made the least news? (D) .303 British. Why? Because no one fears a deer rifle, well, except me.

Where am I going with this? Nowhere in particular, except to say that fear does not equal lethality. Also that danger is not the source of fear. Ignorance is.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Enfield takes the Field: Bye, Bye, Saiga.


Since the New AK showed up, I took the Saiga in to trade it out with my local dealer. He liked the Saiga enough to trade out for a sporterized Enfield (it was that or take a Norinco 870 shotgun clone). Long story short, I am a sucker for old mil surplus and since the only thing I hated about the Enfields was their weight, this VERY nicely done sport job makes a very nice rifle.

It even has a very nice barrel after a good bore brushing.

The .303 round is ugly, and not as versatile as the 30-06, but it has the power to drop dear or bigger animals if ever needed. It also should give decent accuracy to practice with. A much nicer conversion than the mouser I was eyeing at MC Sports the other day.

It even has a new sling. Bonus!

New AK Here! Jury Out on Quality...


Well, we will just have to get this guy out to the range and see what it can do. I like the magazine, the bore looks good, a pin fell out of the folding stock but does not effect performance, there is a slight cant to the front sight but not the gas system, and one mag is slathered in camisole.

The range is the final arbiter.

It is heavier than I expected.

Monday, January 01, 2007

Article Posted @ DailyKos

Here we go, come and see how this goes:

Towards An Understanding of Gun Nuts: One Progressive Gun Owner's Notes


It is up and running now...

Welcome New Congress: Don't Blow It!


Welcome to our new Congress and our new majority!

May this new year bring accountability, sound judgement, oversight, and a lame duck Presidency. It will take hard work, and unusual amount of unity among Dems. Here are my top 10 suggestions for how this new Congress can turn around this country and return us to whom we once were:

1. Stay Focussed.
2. Pick Your Fights Carefully.
3. Be Bold, Even if You Risk Being Wrong.
4. Respect All, Even Idiots.
5. Be Certain in Your Oversight Role.
6. Stay in 2007, Not 2008.
7. Be Merciless on Corruption.
8. Stay in 2007, Not 1994.
9. Be for All Americans, not Just the Ones that Elected You.
10. Stay in 2007, Not 1968.

Good Luck, Godspeed, and God help you all.

Oh, and give them hell!

Because, if you blow this, the voters will not forgive, we just are not in the mood for it...